2024 was the year of ARPGs. Between Last Epoch and Path of Exile 2, we’ve seen plenty of dungeon crawlers slither out of the shadows in the past few years, each of which adds their own spin to the traditional demon slaying and build crafting experience. In the case of Sword of the Necromancer, the classic 2021 ARPG from Grimorio of Games, you can bend your foes to your will, resurrecting them to use as your own private army. Sitting at a 70% rating on Steam, Tama is back and better than ever in Sword of the Necromancer: Resurrection, a brand new remaster that you can play right now.
Similar in style to Diablo 2: Resurrected, Sword of the Necromancer: Resurrection is an expanded remaster of the original RPG with updated, 3D graphics instead of Stardew-esque 2D ones. It reminds me a little bit of old Zelda or Pokemon games, which have transitioned from that iconic planar art into the vividly stylized cartoon versions we have today.
The core of the game remains the same: using the titular Sword of the Necromancer, Tama descends into a series of dungeons to try and bring Koko, a priestess and Tama’s former travelling companion, back to life. Just as the weapon can supposedly resurrect Koko, you can use it to breathe new unlife into the foes you face on your travels and transform them into your own personal bodyguards.
Combat has been improved and feels more fluid, but the real highlight of Resurrection is its new Tactics system. Giving you even more control over your undead allies, you’ll be able to direct them and set their priorities, meaning you can use them as meat shields to protect you, or send them into the fray to chunk enemy health bars, allowing you to deliver that killing blow.
Dungeons are procedurally generated, meaning you’ll have a different experience every time. There’s the fiendishly difficult roguelike mode, too, which will put your abilities to the test – who knows what you’ll find lurking in the dark.
Sword of the Necromancer: Resurrection is out now. Featuring new cutscenes and cinematics that really dive into the world’s lore, it’s a more complete version of the original game. You can try it out right here. You’ll also get 20% off until Thursday February 6, bringing it down to $19.99 / £16.67.
If hacking and slashing your way through hordes of beasties sounds like the perfect way to wile away the hours, check out our list of games like Diablo. Alternatively, if you’re looking for something new but don’t want to break the bank, here’s our guide to all the best free Steam games.
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